Electric boiler



J. H. KNAPP ELECTRIC BOILER Oct. 5, 1937.

Filed Feb. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l X om mu JOSEPH H. KNAPP MiJ/flhvELECTRIC BOILER Filed Feb. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOSEPH H. KNA PPattmswa J. H. KNAPP 2,095,033

Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFic-E ELECTRIC BOILERJoseph H. Knapp, Utlca, N. Y., assignor of fortynine percent to ThomasC. Redmond, Utica,

I Application February 11, 1936, Serial No. 63,386

7 Claims. '(Cl. 122-4) -My invention relates to an electric boiler and Iing 2 above mentioned which is smaller in diamedeclare the following tobe a full, clear, concise ter than casing I, whereby to provide vacuumand exact description thereof suflicient to enable chamber 3therebetween. Casing 2 has each of v anyone skilled in the art to whichit appertains its opposite ends closed by disc shaped members 5- to makeand use the same, reference being had l5 and I6 respectively. End discsI5 and" I6 are to the accompanying drawings in which like refsecured tocasing 2 in the same manner as end erence characters refer to like partsthroughout discs 4 and 5 are to casing I. In this instance thespecification. annular rings 20, 20 are attached in each in- The objectof the invention is to provide an stance to the casing 2 by V welds at2|, whereby electric boiler which can be used for water, vapor to formcircumferential flanges to which is bolted 10 or steam heat. -It isdesigned to dispose the at 22 end discs l5 and IS. A gasket 23 isemheating element in a complete vacuum, whereby ployed in each instancehere also as in scaling to conserve to the maximum degree the heatgenthe ends of easing A star disc I I or one havin erated by an electriccurrent. In this respect peripheral are shaped openings I8 is employedl5..it avoids the objectionable feature of allowing the to holdcylindrical casings and 2 in spaced heat to escape up the chimney asheretofore in relation adjacent their central longitudinal locathe caseof hot water heaters and boilers. tions. The are shaped openings l8 formair pas- To accomplish this conservation of heat the sages to allow forthe passage of the air, whereby boiler is encased and constructedsomewhat on a not to obstruct or divide the vacuum chamber 3.

Principle of a thermos bottle. Within casing 2 is suspended with airspace 20 The object. will be understood from the drawthereabout theboiler 30. Boiler 30 comprises a 11185111 which, pluralityof annularsections 3|. Sections 3| are Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof the joined together and their passageways communiboiler showing partsin full. 1 cate with each other by nipples 33, 33 used there- Fig. 2is-a front elevation showing parts broken between in each instance. Eachof the nipples 25 aw y. 33, is formed with a double truncated surfaceFig. 3 is a detail view showing a fragment which inclinesinoppositedirections and engages of a star supporting bushing employed.corresponding apertures in the heads 34 of each Fig. 41s a detail viewsomewhat reducedfin of the sections 3|, whereby they can be wedged scaleshowing one'of the boiler sectionsf into place to efiect a drive fitthat will be suf- 30 -F gc 5 is a detail view somewhat reduced in'ficiently secure to permanently attach sections scale showing amodification of the heating ele- 3| together. Nipples 33 are disposed atdiametriment p yedv cally opposite positions relative to sections 3|.Fig. 6 is a detail view of certain connecting Each of the nipples 33 hasa central conduit or 35 pipes showing amodiiication of the arrangementpassageway 36 that communicates with the 35 I e o pmsybelngbl'oken y.annular conduit or passageway 31 of each of R t ing more Particularly tothe drawings the adjacent sections 3| whereby all of the nipthe boilerembodies an outer casing and an ples 33 in conjunction with thepassageways of inner-casing h chare sealed fromthe atmossections 3| formmanifolds for the unobstructed 4o phere to form an inner vacuum chamber3 there: flow of the water at diametrically opposite loca- 40 between,whereby to effect a thermo-boiler that none. a

will conserve ,the heat gener t d by the electric The end sections 3|a,3|b, are attached to anheat element hereinafter mentioned to themaxinular plates 43 and 44 respectively Sections 3| mum'd eree, Casi land 2 are y ical in are in communication with a water line pipe 45 45 Sp The s 01 i l are clos d by large which has its inner end screwthreaded at 46 to 45 6 8 Shaped members 4 d 5 r sp chead 34 in section3|a. Pipe 45 passes throughv tlve y- Each 61 t e ends and 18 secured toan aperture in annular plate 43. It is held in y drical 0881 8 I bybolts rivets To $1118 position by collar 46 and set screw 41. Likewisechai annular 1 8 1 Welded w V shapedi outlet steam or water pipe 43passes through an *5 we i to each end 8 l to m aperture in plate 43 andis screw threaded at 43 50 circumferential'flange to which each of theend t a 34 of ti n 3m. members 4 and I are'bo'lted by said rivets 6 Theopposite end section 3|b isattached to above mentioned. A gasket I0 isemployed in annular plate 44 by means of screw threaded eachinstance.vplugs 50 that engage screw threaded apertures 66 Suspended withincasing, "is cylindrical casin heads 34b in end section 3|b. Plugs 53 are55 relative to said arbors 99.

reduced at M to engage plate 96 through which they pass at diametricallyopposite positions. Screw bolts 52, 52 engage threaded apertures onplugs 59, 59, whereby to hold said plugs tightly to annular plate 99.Washers 55 are employed in each instance.

The means for suspending boiler 39 within casing 2 embodies arbors orgudgeons 69, 69 which are screw threaded at6I, M to plates 93 and 95respectively. Furthermore, arbors 69 are disposed in alignment with eachother and little ofi centerrelative to plates 93 and 59, whereby thegreater weight of boiler 39 will be lowermost This will tend to preventthe swinging of boiler 39 with the consequent loosening of contiguousjoints thereof.

7 Each of the arbors 69 is reduced at 62, 62 to fit snugly into acentral annular open aperture or matrix formed in the cooperating memberI2, I2. Each of the cooperating members I2 has a bearing in end closingdiscs I5 and I6 respectively. A plate I3 is welded with a V weld to eachof the members I2 and to end discs l5 and I9 respectively, whereby tohold said members I2, I2 rigidly to the inside contiguous surface of enddiscs I5 and I6.

The inner reduced ends of arbor 69 are chamfered orbeveled intotruncated conical shape to aid in assembly and-also to provide a vacuumchamber withinthat part' of the cooperating member I2 that has thematrix.

Furthermore, members 12, I2 are reduced at I5 to form projections thatfit snugly in each instance into an aperture or matrix I6 made inauxiliary arbors TI, II. A plate I8 is welded by a V weld to each of theauxiliary arbors I7 and to the inside surface of end discs 4 and 5,whereby to rigidly hold said auxiliary arbors II, IT in place on saidend closing discs 4 and 5.respectended open slotted part 38 formed oneach oi the sections 3|. Sections 3| being circular leave or both setscan be electrified to regulate the amount of electricity used forheating boiler 39. The lower set 99 is connective to one electriccircuit and the upper set 99 to another. Sets 99, 99 are electricallyconnective in series relative to each other, whereby the heat within theboiler chamber 92 can be controlled in a predetermined ratio inaccordance with degree of heat required.

The means for controlling the degree of heat within the boiler embodiesthe bulb 93 which is disposed within heat chamber 92. It extendspartially across section 3Ia of boiler 39. It is mounted to plate 83through which it projects by means of stufling box 99. A tube 95 isattached at one end to bulb 93 and,its other to temperature controlthermostat 96. Tube 95 passes through sleeve 95a which projects throughaligned apertures made in end members 9 and I5 and is welded thereto.Thermostat 96 is connected by wires 91, 98 with an electric source.Wires 9! and 98 are conducted to the source through out let box 99 andconduit 99a. Outlet box 99 is mounted to end member 9. Thermostat 96 ismounted on bracket 96a attached to end member 9.

The means for efi'ecting a vacuum within vacuum chamber 3 embodies avacuum pump, not shown, connected to pipe I99 which hasa union joint atI9I. with pipe I92 leading to vacuum gage I93 and pipe I94 leading tothe interior of vacuum chamber 3 through casing l. Pipe I94 projectsthrough end disc 9 and is welded with a V weld thereto.

The means for regulating the amount of water in boiler 39 embodies anautomatic spring pressed valve I95 connected to intake water pipe 45.Valve I95 is enclosed in casing I96. A set screw I97 can be adjusted tocontrol the degree of tension of coiled spring- I98 that presses at oneend openingsthrough their central portions, whereby to allow for thefree passage of air. Stay rods 35, am held in position by washers 45',95' and nuts 46', 46' in each instance.

The means for heating boiler 39 embodies one or more electric heatingunits or elements 89 7 which is disposed longitudinally across theinteas described in'U. S. Letters Patent Nos. 1,614,330, I 60 and1,614,938. It is connected at 89, 89 in electric circuit by-wires 85, 85which extend out through insulated bushings 86, 86 disposed throughcooperating sleeves 87, 81 that project- "outwardly through alignedapertures made in 65 3 -'to the contiguous surfaces of end disc 9. Fur-.

end discs '9 and I5. Sleeves 97, 8 7 are welded thermore, bushings 86,-86 are screw threaded at 88, 88 to the headed part 89 of sleeves 81, 81.

In.place of the rectangular'shape of heating element 89, twosemicircumi'erential elements shaped as 99, 99 shown in Fig. 5 may beused.

.These two-will be disposed between the .contig- --uo11s surfaces ofboiler sections 3i, 3'I to fill the circle. Furthermore, heatingelements 99, 99 will be electrically connected in series, whereby oneagainst valve I95 and at the other against cap I99 loosely mounted onthe lower end of screw bolt I911 Screw I9'I- is. mounted in cover IIIscrew threaded tocasing I96. There is also a cap H2 screw threadedtocover III. Casing [96 is screw threaded to inlet pipe 95. Valve I95 isset against a twenty pound or any other predetermined pressure in boiler39, whereby to determine the amount of water entering said boiler. Whenthe pressure in boiler 39 falls below twenty pounds, valve I95 willopen' to allow more water to enterboiler 'sections3l.

In operation the person using the boiler which has been installed in hishome Will touch an electric button, whereby to eifect an electriccircuit'through heating element 89 in the chamber .92 of boiler.39.Theheat generated in heating element 89 will be disbursed through theinterior of chamber 92, whereby to heat sections 3| of boiler 39. Itcannot escape therefrom, however, in view of its being sealed and inview of vacuum chamber 3. Therefore, all .the heat can be utilized toheat the water within sections 3 I. This will start a circulation of thewater which enters by way of intake pipe 45and emerges byway of outletpipe 98 to the radiators, not shown, in the several rooms of the house.

It will be observed that as the cold water enters pipe 85 it will have astraight passageway through the lower ends of all of. the sections 3!and cor- .responding nipples 33 and will tend to fill the spacetherebetween.

In this construction of boiler 39 it will be observed that as the waterbecomes heated and rises in sections 3i, it can flow out through outletpipe heretofore in an endless coil arrangement where the water enters inone end of coil and flows out the opposite end. This is due to themanifold formed by the continuous passageway through 36 of nipples 33and 31 of sections 3|.

When the temperature rises to a certain degree Fahrenheit the mechanismof the thermostat,

control 96 will automatically throw off the electric switch, not shown,and thereby break the electric circuit until a predetermined lowerdegree Fahrenheit is reached when the electric switch, not shown, willbe automatically thrown in again.

The vacuum chamber 3, will be kept constant by a vacuum pump, not shown,heretofore mentioned. The pump is automatically controlled by gage I03,which makes an electric circuit as the vacuum lowers and cuts out theelectric circuit when the vacuum reaches a predetermined pressureindicated by'saidgage I03.

In the modified form of heating element 30, shown in Fig. 5 each set ofheat elements 90, 90 can be thrown in simultaneously or severally tocontrol the degree of heat within the chamber 92.

It will be observed that the structure can be easily taken apart forrepair or cleaning purposes; that the boiler 30 being built in sectionscan likewise be separated into its several parts.

In the event it'is desirable to have steam heat, water gage H0 willconnect inlet pipe 45 with outlet pipe 48, whereby to indicate the levelof water in sections 3| of boiler 30.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a boiler, a plurality of removable annular sections having headmembers to allow for connections, nipples having conduits engaging saidhead members, whereby to join said sections and form continuous alignedpassageways therebetween, end plates attached to said sections, arborsengaging said end plates, members having apertures for engaging saidarbors and other members for engaging said last named members,

whereby to hold said sections in suspended position.

2. In a boiler, a plurality of removable annular sections having headmembers to allow for connections, nipples having double truncatedsurfaces engaging said annular sections toforin continuous alignedpassageways between said sections, plates attached to said section's,arbors engaging said plates, members having apertures for engaging saidarbors, whereby to hold said sections in suspended position, said lastmembers having reduced portions, other members having aperturesforengaging said reduced portions of said members, plates adjacent saidfirst named plates and said last members mounted to said end plates,whereby to hold the aforesaid parts in suspended position.

3. In a boiler, a plurality of removable annular sections having headmembers to allow for connections, nipples having conduits engaging saidhead members, whereby to join said sections to form continuous alignedsurfaces therebetween, end plates attached to said sections, arborsengaging said end plates, members having apertures carrying said arbors,whereby to hold said sections in suspended position, said sectionshaving extended parts with open slots and stayrods engaging said parts,whereby to aid in holding said sections together.

4. In a boiler of the class described, a plurality of spaced annularsections, means interconnecting said annular sections to permitcirculation of water therethrough, electrical heating means extendingthroughout substantially the entire axial length of said units at oneside thereof and in direct contact therewith whereby heat energy isconveyed to water in said sections, an inlet for water to said sections,and an outlet for heated water from said sections.

5. In a boiler of the class described, a plurality of spaced annularsections, means interconnecting said annular sections to permitcirculation of water therethrough, a plurality of electrical heatingmeans extending throughout substantially the entire axial length of saidunits at one side thereof and in direct contact therewith whereby heatenergy is conveyed to said sections, a heat insulating casing completelyencasing said sections, an inlet for water to said sections, and anoutlet for heated water from said sections.

6. In a boiler of the class described, a plurality of spaced annularsections of relatively small capacity, means interconnecting saidannular sections to permit circulation of water therethrough, electricalheating means extending throughout substantially the entire axial lengthof said units at one side thereof and in direct contact therewithwhereby heatenergy isconveyed to water in said sections, a double-walledvacuum casing surrounding said sections on all sides thereof, an inletfor water to said sections and an outlet for heated water from saidsections.

'7. In a boiler of the class described, a plurality of spaced annularsections having relatively small capacity, means interconnecting saidannular sections to permit circulation of water therethrough, aplurality of electrical heating elements extending throughoutsubstantially the entire axial length of said units at one side thereofand in direct contact therewith, said electrical heating elements beingadapted to generate heat throughout their entire length whereby heat isconveyed to said sections at the points of contact

